Steven Matz Is About to Face the Team He Owns, and the Rays Are Riding Four Straight Wins Into Cleveland

The Tampa Bay Rays just swept Minnesota and are heading to Cleveland with momentum you can feel. Steven Matz is about to take the mound against Parker Messick and the Guardians on Monday night, and here's the thing: Matz has completely owned this matchup over his career. The guy is 3-0 lifetime against Cleveland with a 1.71 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings. All three of those wins came in 2016, 2019, and 2021. That's the kind of track record that makes you wonder if the Guardians have figured him out yet.

Matz Is Still Ramping Up, but Don't Sleep on Him

The 34-year-old lefty spent the last two years pitching in relief for St. Louis and Boston, so he's building his arm back up as a starter. Yeah, he took a loss to Cincinnati on Tuesday, giving up four runs in three innings, but Matz was honest about it: "It's just not who I am as a pitcher. I'm a strike thrower and I just wasn't able to do that." He's still finding his rhythm, but when you look at his resume against Cleveland specifically, that's a problem for the Guardians. Matz has only made it through six innings once this season, so Tampa Bay's bullpen will need to be ready early. The Rays already traded for righty Casey Legumina after Seattle designated him for assignment, and Rays manager Kevin Cash made it clear: "With where the bullpen is right now, we need to be opportunistic. And Casey is a guy we like. Hopefully, this helps him and he can help us."

Messick Is Money, But Cleveland Just Got Burned Twice

Parker Messick has been unreal for the Guardians. The rookie is 3-0 with a 1.76 ERA and ranks third in the AL in ERA. The Guardians have won all five of his starts. Here's the wild part: every single one of those wins has come after a Cleveland loss. He made two late-season appearances against Tampa last year, going 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA while racking up 10 strikeouts and zero walks over 13 innings. His changeup is special. "It's been my pitch since I was a freshman in high school, so hopefully I can keep it rolling," Messick said. "Every game is a new game, so I just trust myself to attack in a new way."

But Cleveland's bullpen has been the problem lately. The Guardians lost two straight to Toronto after winning the series opener, and manager Stephen Vogt is frustrated about sixth-inning breakdowns. "That's two nights in a row we've gotten burned in that pocket in the sixth inning," Vogt said. "It's a tricky situation because you don't want to go to your bullpen too early, so you have to show some trust in your starters."

The Rays Are Hot, and This Matchup Is Perfect for Them

Tampa just crushed Minnesota 4-2 on Sunday to complete the sweep. Yandy Diaz hit a two-run shot in the third, and Jonathan Aranda drove in two with a single. The Rays are on a four-game winning streak and are sitting at 11-1 against AL opponents this season. Monday's game in Cleveland is exactly what Tampa needs to keep rolling.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.